7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
T hree days had passed since Detective Collins's visit, and I still couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that had taken root in my chest. His business card sat on my bedside table, a tangible reminder of the strange encounter and the missing Alpha named Braden Jensen.
I'd spent more time than I cared to admit searching for information about him online. There wasn't much—a sparse social media presence, a brief mention in a local newspaper about a scholarship he'd received two years ago. Nothing that explained why he'd burst into my shop looking like he'd seen a ghost, or why he'd gone missing.
The morning routine at Petal & Thorn had become a strange comfort amid the uncertainty. I found myself checking the locks twice, scanning the street before entering, always alert for any sign of trouble. Jamie had noticed, of course, but knew better than to comment directly.
"You're hovering," I told him as he restocked the display of sunflowers for the third time that morning. "I'm not fragile, you know."
"I'm just being thorough," he said, not quite meeting my eyes. "These are premium blooms. They deserve proper placement."
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Jamie."
He sighed, shoulders slumping. "Fine. I'm worried about you. Sue me."
"There's nothing to worry about," I insisted, though the tightness in my chest suggested otherwise. "The detective got what he wanted. The case has nothing to do with us."
"Then why do you keep looking over your shoulder every time the bell rings?" Jamie challenged. "And don't think I haven't noticed you checking the locks twice every morning and night."
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again. He wasn't wrong.
"It's just a precaution," I said finally. "Nothing more. Now, can we please get back to work? Mrs. Hoffman's anniversary arrangement isn't going to make itself."
Jamie gave me a long look before nodding reluctantly. "Fine. But if anything weird happens—anything at all—you tell me. Promise?"
"Promise," I agreed, just to appease him. "Now hand me those pink roses."
The morning passed in a steady rhythm of customers and deliveries. I lost myself in the work, finding comfort in the familiar motions of trimming stems and arranging petals. By early afternoon, the nagging anxiety had receded to a dull hum in the back of my mind.
Until the bell above the door chimed, and I looked up to see him.
Not Detective Collins, as I'd half-expected. Not Braden Jensen either.
It was the other Alpha—Officer Reeves. My blood froze in my veins as Officer Reeves sauntered in, his eyes scanning the shop before landing on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. He wore civilian clothes today—dark jeans and a gray Henley that did nothing to disguise the Alpha bulk beneath—but his stance screamed law enforcement. Or maybe just threat.
Jamie tensed beside me, his scent sharpening with anxiety. I placed a steadying hand on his arm, a silent command to stay put, before stepping forward.
"Can I help you?" I asked, my voice deliberately cool and professional. No hint of the fear curling in my stomach, no sign of the anger simmering just beneath my skin.
Reeves's mouth curved into something too sharp to be called a smile. "Just browsing." He moved through the shop with deliberate slowness, touching petals, examining price tags, all while keeping me in his line of sight.
I watched him, keeping my face carefully neutral even as my pulse quickened. Every instinct screamed to confront him, to demand he leave, but something held me back. Maybe it was the calculated way he moved, like he was hoping I'd give him a reason to retaliate.
"Beautiful shop," he commented, his voice carrying an undercurrent of mockery. "Very... quaint."
"Thank you," I replied stiffly. "Is there something specific you're looking for today?"
He picked up a delicate glass vase, turning it over in his hands with deliberate carelessness. "Just curious about the place. After our last encounter, I wanted to see what kind of... establishment you run."
I felt Jamie shift behind me, ready to intervene, but I gave a subtle shake of my head. Reeves was baiting me, and I refused to bite.
Family business, right? That's what Collins said." He asked, his voice almost nonchalant but I knew better.
I didn't answer, just held his gaze steadily across the shop. The mention of Collins's name confirmed what I already suspected—this wasn't an official visit.
"Most people who come in here actually want to buy something," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Not just waste my time."
His eyes snapped to mine, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "That's not very good customer service."
"Neither is tackling paying customers at funeral homes," I replied evenly. "Yet here we are."
Jamie made a small noise behind me that might have been a strangled laugh or a warning. I ignored it, keeping my focus on the Alpha prowling through my shop like he owned it.
"You know," Reeves continued, setting down the vase with deliberate precision, "I've been thinking about that little encounter at the Funeral home."
"Have you?" I kept my voice neutral, though my heart hammered against my ribs. "I'm surprised you had the time, what with being on administrative duty and all."
His eyes narrowed, that dangerous glint returning. "You're well-informed."
"Word travels fast," I replied, maintaining my composure despite the tension coiling in my stomach. "Especially when it involves officers who can't tell the difference between florists and criminals."
Reeves moved closer, each step deliberate. The distance between us shrank until he stood just across the counter, close enough that his scent—sharp with aggression and something darker—filled my nostrils.
"Collins has a soft spot for hard cases. Always has." He moved closer, each step deliberate. "But I see right through you."
"Is that so?" I kept my voice level, even as my muscles tensed, ready to move if necessary. "And what exactly do you think you see?"
He was at the counter now, close enough that his scent—sharp with aggression and something else I couldn't quite place—filled my nostrils. "An Omega who doesn't know her place. Who thinks she can mouth off to Alphas without consequences."
"My place is right here," I said, gesturing to the shop around us. "Running my business. And if you're not here to buy flowers, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave."
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might lunge across the counter. Instead, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.
"You think you're so clever, don't you? Playing innocent with Collins, batting those big Omega eyes." His breath was hot against my face. "But I know your type. Always hiding something."
I forced myself to hold his gaze, even as my heart hammered against my ribs. "I already told Detective Collins everything I know. Which is practically nothing."
"See, that's where I disagree," Reeves said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Jensen was running from something. Something big. And out of all the places in this city, he came here." He gestured around the shop with a dismissive wave. "To a little flower shop run by an Omega who seems to be keeping secrets."
"The only thing I'm hiding is my impatience," I replied, refusing to step back despite every instinct screaming at me to create distance. "Now, are you going to buy something, or are you just here to harass me?"
His eyes flicked to Jamie, then back to me. "Your little Beta watchdog can't protect you forever. And Collins won't always be around to smooth things over."
"Is that a threat, Officer Reeves?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest at his words. I wouldn’t show him that his words effected me.
A slow smile spread across his face, all teeth and no warmth. "Just an observation, Ms. Reed. Things happen to people who get involved in matters that don't concern them."
"I'm not involved in anything," I said firmly. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd stop implying otherwise."
Jamie stepped forward then, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with something harder. "I think you should leave now, Officer."
Reeves's gaze flicked to Jamie, dismissive and cold. "The Beta speaks." He looked back at me. "Cute. You've got him well-trained."
I felt rather than saw Jamie stiffen beside me. My own anger flared hot and bright, but I tamped it down. Getting angry was exactly what Reeves wanted.
Before I could respond, the bell above the door chimed again. Reeves straightened immediately, his demeanor shifting so quickly it was almost comical. The predatory gleam in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a carefully neutral expression as he turned toward the door.
Detective Collins stood in the entryway, his imposing frame filling the doorway. His gaze moved from Reeves to me, his expression unreadable.
“Dakota.” I could feel how the air almost shifted when Collin’s was talking. He wasn’t happy that Reeves was here, that was for sure, “You aren’t on duty today…or supposed to be out in the field.”
Reeves's shoulders stiffened. "Just doing some follow-up, sir. Unofficial."
"I see." Collins's tone made it clear he saw exactly what was happening.
"On your own time," Collins said, his voice deceptively mild. "Go wait in the car."
Reeves hesitated, his gaze darting between Collins and me like he was weighing his options. For a moment, I thought he might refuse, but something in Collins's expression must have convinced him otherwise.
"Yes, Alpha," he said finally, each word clipped and precise. He turned to me, that dangerous smile returning for just a moment. "Always a pleasure, Ms. Reed."
I said nothing, watching as he stalked past Collins and out the door. Only when the bell chimed behind him did I release the breath I'd been holding.
Collins remained by the door, his expression unreadable as he studied me. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," I said automatically, though my hands were trembling slightly. I clasped them together behind the counter where he couldn't see.
Collins stepped into the shop, letting the door close behind him. He moved with that quiet confidence that seemed to be his trademark, his gaze sweeping the shop before settling back on me.
"Officer Reeves shouldn't have been here," he said, his voice carrying an edge of steel beneath the calm exterior. "I apologize for the intrusion."
"Two apologies in one week," I remarked, trying to keep my voice light despite the lingering tension. "That must be some kind of record for the department."
“I am his Alpha and boss, I apologize for him even if he won’t do it himself.” Collins told me. I blinked at this new information, but stayed silent not really knowing what to say.
Jamie shifted beside me, his protective instincts clearly at war with his natural caution around powerful Alphas. "He was threatening her," he blurted out. "Your officer. Making veiled threats."
Collins's expression darkened. "What exactly did he say?"
I shot Jamie a look—half gratitude, half exasperation—before turning back to Collins. "Nothing specific. Just the usual Alpha posturing." I waved a dismissive hand, though my heart was still racing. "I'm used to it.”
The detective moved closer, his scent—clean, with notes of apricots and sandalwood and something distinctly Alpha—filling the space between us. Unlike Reeves's aggressive musk, Collins's scent was controlled, deliberate.
I had a sudden, irrational urge to step back, to put more distance between us, but I forced myself to stand my ground. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me retreat.
"What exactly did Reeves say to you?" Collins asked, his voice low and intent.
I hesitated, weighing my options. On one hand, reporting Reeves's behavior might get him off my back. On the other, it could make things worse—Alphas didn't take kindly to being reported by Omegas, even when those Alphas were in the wrong.
"Just that I should mind my own business," I said finally, deciding on a partial truth. "That things happen to people who get involved in matters that don't concern them."
Something flickered in Collins's eyes—anger, perhaps, or concern. It was gone too quickly for me to be sure.
"I see.” Collins sighs, eyes seeing to take on a hard edge, “Again I am sorry for him. I will have a talk with him and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Well, he isn't sorry so it is what it is….” I told him, shrugging it off. It wasn’t like Reeves didn’t act like any other Alpha I had been around. It was normal behavior for Alphas, "Now, was there something you needed, Detective? Or are you just here to collect your subordinate?"
Collins studied me for a moment longer before reaching into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small evidence bag containing what looked like a piece of paper.
"I wanted to ask if you recognize this," he said, holding it up for me to see.
I leaned forward, squinting at the contents. It was a receipt—from Petal & Thorn. My shop. The date showed it was from three weeks ago, well before Braden Jensen had burst into my shop.
I frowned, taking the bag from his hands to examine it more closely. It was definitely one of ours—our logo stamped at the top, my handwriting on the itemized portion. A simple arrangement: white lilies, baby's breath, and a dozen red roses. Not our most creative work, but a classic combination.
"Yes, it's from my shop," I confirmed, handing it back to him. "But we process dozens of transactions a day. I don't remember this specific one."
Collins took the bag back, his fingers brushing against mine for the briefest moment. "It was found among Jensen's belongings. The purchase was made before he disappeared."
He paused, his blue eyes on me as he continued, "Along with several other receipts from your shop, dating back almost six months."
My stomach dropped. "Six months?" I handed the bag back to him, my mind racing. "That's impossible. I would have remembered a regular customer, especially an Alpha."
Collins tucked the evidence bag away. "Maybe he wasn't memorable. Or maybe he deliberately kept a low profile."
"Six months," I repeated, my mind racing. "That doesn't make sense."
Jamie moved closer, his brow furrowed. "I don't remember him either, and I'm here almost as much as you are."
"Maybe he used a different name," Collins suggested, watching me carefully. "Or sent someone else to make the purchases."
I shook my head, trying to process this new information. "Why would he do that? We're just a flower shop."
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Collins's voice was quiet but intense. "Jensen has no connection to this area—he lives across town, works at a tech company downtown. Yet he's been buying flowers from your shop specifically for half a year."
"And then he disappears, only to show up here looking terrified," I murmured, more to myself than to Collins. "It doesn't add up."
"That's what I'm trying to determine," Collins said, his voice measured. "Did Jensen ever contact you outside the shop? Phone calls, emails, anything?"
"No," I said firmly. "The only time I saw him was when he burst into the shop that morning." I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the unsettled feeling in my stomach. "And he barely spoke to me then."
"You're sure?" Collins pressed, his gaze so intent it felt like he was trying to see through me. "Think carefully. Even the smallest detail could be important."
I frowned, mentally replaying that brief encounter. "He said 'You're an Omega' when he saw me. That's it. Then he got spooked by something—the bell over the door, I think—and ran out."
Collins nodded slowly, processing this information. "The receipts we found were for identical arrangements. Every two weeks, like clockwork. White lilies, baby's breath, red roses."
"A standard romantic arrangement," Jamie offered. "Nothing unusual about that…it also sounds like a normal order our regulars get for their partners."
"That was our thought as well," Collins agreed. "But Jensen wasn't in a relationship, according to his friends and family. No girlfriend, no boyfriend, no one special in his life."
I frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "So he was buying flowers regularly for someone, but nobody knows who?"
"Exactly." Collins's gaze was steady on mine. "We've been trying to trace the deliveries, but there's nothing in his apartment indicating where they went. No cards, no notes."
I moved to the other end of the counter, pulling out our delivery ledger. "We keep records of all deliveries. If he was sending flowers regularly, it would be in here."
Jamie hovered at my shoulder as I flipped through the pages, scanning for Jensen's name. "Nothing," I said after a thorough check. "No Braden Jensen in our delivery records."
"What about initials? B.J.? Or maybe just Braden?" Collins suggested, moving closer to peer at the ledger.
I shook my head. "Nothing that stands out. We have a few regulars with first initials B, but they're all established customers I know personally."
Collins frowned, his brow furrowing in thought. "What about cash transactions? Would those be recorded differently?"
"We still enter them in the system," I explained, moving to the computer terminal. "Let me check our digital records."
I typed quickly, filtering for the specific arrangement Collins had described. "Here's something," I said after a moment. "A standing order for that exact arrangement, paid in cash, picked up every other Friday." I looked up at Collins. "But it's under the name 'Smith.' Not exactly creative if you're trying to stay anonymous."
"May I?" Collins asked, gesturing to the screen. I hesitated, then nodded, stepping aside to let him look. He leaned in, his scent washing over me as he studied the records. I found myself holding my breath, acutely aware of his proximity.
"Smith," Collins murmured, his breath warm against my cheek. "Always on Friday afternoons?"
"Like clockwork," I confirmed, scrolling through the transaction history. "Always cash, always the same arrangement. The last purchase was three weeks ago—right before he disappeared."
Collins straightened, his expression thoughtful. "And you never noticed him? Never made the connection when he burst into your shop that day?"
I shook my head, feeling oddly defensive. "As I said, we have dozens of customers every day. If he kept a low profile, didn't engage in conversation..." I trailed off, a thought occurring to me. "Wait. Jamie, who usually works Friday afternoons?"
Jamie frowned, thinking. "Usually me. You're often doing deliveries then."
"That's why I never saw him," I realized. "Jamie, do you remember anyone matching his description?”
Jamie shook his head, “Not that I remember, though you know I am horrible with faces. I am a more of a remember the name kind of person.”
I bit my lips at this, but Collins seemed to be thinking before he glanced at me.
"Do you have video surveillance?" he asked, straightening up.
"Yes, but it doesn’t have the best picture," I admitted. "Just a basic security camera…nothing expensive." I gestured to the small camera mounted discreetly above the door.
Collins nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Would you be willing to check the footage from those pickup days? Maybe we could identify who was actually collecting these flowers."
I hesitated, something about this whole situation making me uneasy. "The system only keeps footage for thirty days. Anything older would be gone."
"The most recent pickup would have been... just over two weeks ago," Collins calculated. "Right before Jensen disappeared."
Jamie cleared his throat. "That would still be in our system."
I shot him a look that he pointedly ignored. "I can check," I said reluctantly. "But it may take a bit to get. Our systems are a bit slow.” I didn’t think we needed the fast systems or computers, so I had been putting off getting them since they were expensive.
“Take your time. I can go have a talk with Reeves while you pull things up.” He gave me a small smile, his scent pushing out and almost engulfing me. I had to stop myself from swaying and stepping close to him. He smelled good.
I quickly shook my head, “That is fine. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.” I watched him give me a small smirk and nod before leaving the shop quickly. He left me weak-kneed and lightheaded…but I wasn’t going to let anyone know that.
I took a deep breath and quickly made work to get the surveillance he needed. The quicker they had it, the quicker they could get out of my life.